• by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, May 21, 2019

Various forms of robotics are entering homes and many consumers are greeting the idea with open arms.

Nearly half (45%) of U.S. adults already are familiar with robotics and most (84%) of them are enthusiastic about using robotics technology in everyday life.

Those are among the findings of a new survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

"Consumer robotics are bringing game-changing innovations to sectors including healthcare, education, retail and delivery, and most tech-aware consumers recognize how these changes will improve their lives," states Lesley Rohrbaugh, director, market research, CTA. "Most consumers surveyed associate robots with being state-of-the-art and say they are innovative, intelligent and efficient.”

The retail and hospitality sector is projected as the largest for robotic products and services, estimated to increase from $20 billion today to $72 billion by 2025, according to CTA.

While few (4%) consumers have interacted with retail or concierge robots, many (83%) said they would be open to using the technology for services such as in-store assistance or room service.

Most (84%) consumers aware of robot delivery said they would be open to using robotics to deliver food and packages, primarily in urban settings.

The majority (67%) of consumers said they are open to using robotics in a healthcare setting, with 60% saying it would make life easier and 48% saying it would save time.

With devices such as robotic vacuums and lawnmowers in the market for some time already, it should be no surprise that 20% of adults already have interacted with household robotics of one form or another.

They’re likely to keep coming as well. Almost all (90%) of those who have used robotics in and around the home say they appreciate the convenience of the products.